Ubos is the Peruvian name for this tropical fruit tree. In the English-speaking tropics it is often called “hog plum.” This deciduous tree is erect and grows to 20 meters tall with a trunk 60-75 cm in diameter. The trunk is slightly buttressed and has a thick, fissured, corky, greyish bark. The leaves are 20-45 cm long and hairy underneath. The tree produces an abundant crop of small, fragrant, white flowers in panicles. Ubos also produces numerous plum-like fruits that hang in branched terminal clusters of a dozen or more.

The fruit starts out green and then turns to a light golden-yellow upon ripening. They are about 3-4 cm long and 2.5 cm wide with a thin tough skin and a very juicy pulp which is very acidic and usually sour-tasting. The fruits are favored by tapirs and wild hogs where it grows in the wild, but the people in the area usually prepare it with sugar or sugarcane juice in jams, juices, and ice creams to counteract its tartness. One of its Indian names is taperiba which means “fruit of the tapir,” and Indians in the Amazon will often hunt tapir using ubos fruit as bait.

Ubos is native to the lowland moist forests of the Amazon in Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, the three Guianas, as well as southern Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, and the West Indies. It is strictly tropical and rarely occurs above about 1,000 meters in elevation. While it is widely found in the rainy lowland rainforests of the Amazon, it has also adapted to grow in more arid zones of Brazil, Peru, and the Caribbean as well. The tree grows quite rapidly and is sometimes planted as living fence posts as well as for shade and for its fruits.

TRIBAL AND HERBAL MEDICINE USES

Ubos is widely relied on for various herbal remedies for numerous conditions and virtually every part of the tree is used — from its thick corky bark, to its leaves, fruits, roots, to even its flowers. Usually different properties and actions are attributed to different parts of the tree.

In South American herbal medicine systems as well as in other parts of the world ubos leaves are widely used for female reproductive tracts issues. It is a common midwife’s remedy to help induce labor, reduce bleeding and pain during and after childbirth, to bring on the flow of breast milk, and as a vaginal wash to prevent or treat uterine or vaginal infections after childbirth. The leaves are also a common remedy for various digestive problems including stomachaches, diarrhea, dyspepsia, gastralgia, colic, and constipation.

The leaves are considered to be antiviral, antibacterial, anticandidal, and antiseptic and used in numerous microbial problems including colds and flu, cystitis, urethritis, sore throats, herpes, yeast infections, gonorrhea, eye and ear infections, and used externally for infected wounds, cuts, burns, and rashes. The leaves are also considered to be an excellent vermifuge and anthelmintic and often used for intestinal worms and parasites in humans as well as their livestock.

The bark of the ubos tree is also employed by midwives. It is widely used as a contraceptive and abortive, as well as for ovarian and uterine cancer. It is considered analgesic and antispasmodic and used for arthritis, rheumatism, muscle and joint pain, injuries and inflammation. The bark contains a great deal of astringent tannins and is usually prepared in decoctions for diarrhea and dysentery, blenorrhagia, hemorrhoids, and for internal and external wounds and bleeding. In addition, the bark is also used for tonsilitis, laryngitis, malaria, fever, erysipelas, bladder and kidney stones, snakebite, and intestinal ulcers . The bark is also considered to be a good topical antiseptic and healing remedy for all types of wounds, rashes, psoriasis, dermatitis, leishmaniasis, leprosy, and other skin problems.

The many small fragrant flowers of ubos are also used in herbal medicine. They are typically prepared in an infusion and used for eye infections and cataracts, as a soothing tea for sore throat, laryngitis and mouth sores, as well as a heart tonic. The root is used as an antimicrobial for tuberculosis, diarrhea and vaginal infections. The fruit is eaten as a mild laxative but in large quantities it is considered to be emetic (induces vomiting).

PLANT CHEMICALS

Ubos leaves and bark contains tannins, saponins, flavonoids, sterols, quinones, and antioxidant chemicals. The leaves have been reported to contain several salicylic acid derivatives (aspirin is a type of salicylic acid) which probably explains the traditional use of the leaves for various types of pain. The bark and leaves also contains a well known chemical with pain-relieving actions called caryophyllene. The leaves are also a significant source of another chemical called chlorogenic acid. This natural plant chemical has been reported with antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory actions.

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND CLINICAL RESEARCH

Toxicity studies with mice and rats were performed on ubos in several published studies. The leaves were reported non-toxic in animals when administered orally (up to 5 g per kg of an animal’s weight). Toxicity was noted however when animals were injected with a leaf extract (LD50 was between 1.36 and 1.86 gm / kg). The use of ubos leaves by midwives has been studied and reported over several years. It was reported with uterine stimulant actions as well as abortive effects in three studies with laboratory animals (mice and guinea pigs).

Ubos leaves were also reported with smooth muscle relaxant actions, uterine antispasmodic, sedative and anticonvulsant actions, and anti-anxiety actions in other animal studies which help validate some of its other traditional uses. In addition, ubos leaves have long been used traditionally to treat parasitic and intestinal worms in humans and animals. One research group administered the leaves (2 doses of 500 mg per kg in body weight) to sheep with confirmed intestinal worms and reported that it reduced fecal egg counts by 54% for Strongyloides, 65% for Oesophagostomum, and 100% for Tichuris parasites. They also reported it directly killed these parasites in their test tube studies.

In other test tube studies, ubos leaves have been reported with antioxidant actions, antibacterial actions, antiviral actions, anti-candidal actions, and hemostatic actions. One study indicated that ubos leaves had the ability to inhibit beta-lactamase — an enzyme produced by certain bacteria that inactivates penicillin and results in resistance to that antibiotic. Its reported antiviral actions (against herpes, HIV, cocksacie, poliovirus, and rotoviruses) might be explained by reports that ubos has the ability to inhibit reverse transcriptase — a chemical required by many viruses to replicate.

The bark and/or stembark of ubos has also been studied by scientists. It was reported with anti-inflammatory actions in an animal study with rats which might be explained by another study reporting that ubos had COX-inhibitor actions in vitro (an enzyme involved in the creation of inflammation in the body). The bark has also been reported with antibacterial actions in test tube studies but was not as effective as the leaves. It was also reported to inhibit human rotovirus by 82% in vitro which might explain its long standing use for diarrhea. Other in vitro testing researchers also reported that ubos bark has strong antifungal and anti-candidal actions.

Ubos bark and leaves have both been studied for their antitumorous and anticancerous effects. Extracts of both the leaves and bark passed an initial screening test to predict anti-tumor actions in two analyses. During the same time university students at Cornell University testing the bark in vitro against colon and skin cancer cell lines reported no cytotoxic effect. However, university researchers in Nigeria reported in 2002 that rats fed with ubos bark had a much lower rate of tumor incidence over the control group when fed a carcinogenic diet and reported that ubos bark had a anticancerous effect in their animal studies.

In 2002, a U.S. patent was filed on a cosmetic product that contained an extract of ubos leaves. In the patent, the French researchers indicated that ubos leaves had de-pigmenting, antioxidant, anti-aging, cellular metabolism stimulation, and sunscreen effects for the skin.

CURRENT PRACTICAL USES

Ubos is widely known in the tropics where it grows however American consumers are just now learning about it. There are only one or two U.S.-made products available currently. Consumers should pay attention to which part of the tree is being marketed since the leaves and bark have different properties, actions, and traditional uses. In South America the bark is considered a good anti-inflammatory and analgesic and used for inflamed and painful conditions like arthritis, rheumatism, and skin rashes, while the leaves are a common remedy for digestive and female complaints as well as an antimicrobial for infections conditions.

Traditional Preparation: Ubos leaves are traditionally prepared in infusions while the bark is typically prepared in decoctions or tinctures. See Traditional Herbal Remedies Preparation Methods page if necessary for definitions.

Contraindications:

Ubos leaves are traditionally used as a childbirth aid to induce labor and as an abortive. Animals studies report uterine stimulant and abortive actions. Do not use if you are pregnant unless under the direct supervision of a medical practitioner.

Ubos bark is traditionally used as a contraceptive. While no animal or human studies support this traditional use, women seeking to become pregnant should probably avoid use of this plant.

Ubos leaves contains salicylic acid derivatives. If allergic or sensitive to aspirin or salicylic acid, avoid use of the leaves.Drug Interactions: None reported. Animal studies document ubos leaves with sedative and anti-anxiety effects and as such, the leaves might enhance the effect of other sedative and anti-anxiety medications.

† The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information contained in this plant database file is intended for education, entertainment and information purposes only. This information is not intended to be used to diagnose, prescribe or replace proper medical care. The plant described herein is not intended to treat, cure, diagnose, mitigate or prevent any disease. Please refer to our Conditions of Use for using this plant database file and web site.

Published Third-Party Research on Ubos

All available third-party research on ubos can be found at PubMed. A partial listing of the published research on ubos is shown below: Uterine Stimulant & Abortive Actions:

Kramer, A., et al. “Ethnobotany and biological activity of plants utilized during pregnancy and childbirth in the Peruvian Amazon.” Emanations from the Rainforest and the Carribean Vol. 4 Sept. 2002, Cornell University.

Flood, K., et al. “Phytochemical analysis of Cedrela odorata and Spondias mombin, two dietary sources of Callithrix pygmea on the Yarapa river in the Amazon basin of Peru.” Emanations from the Rainforest and the Carribean Vol. 4 Sept. 2002, Cornell University.

Herforth, A., “Anti-fungal plants of the Peruvian Amazon: A survey of ethnomedical uses and biological activity.” Emanations from the Rainforest and the Carribean. Vol. 4 Sept. 2002, Cornell University.

Cytotoxic & Anticancerous Actions:

Flood, K., et al. “Phytochemical analysis of Cedrela odorata and Spondias mombin, two dietary sources of Callithrix pygmea on the Yarapa river in the Amazon basin of Peru.” Emanations from the Rainforest and the Carribean Vol. 4 Sept. 2002, Cornell University.

Herforth, A., “Anti-fungal plants of the Peruvian Amazon: A survey of ethnomedical uses and biological activity.” Emanations from the Rainforest and the Carribean Vol. 4 Sept. 2002, Cornell University.

Ingredients: 100% pure ubos bark (Spondias mombin). No binders, fillers or additives are used. This plant is non-irradiated and not fumigated, and has grown naturally in the Peruvian Amazon without pesticides or fertilizers.

Suggested Use:* This plant is best prepared as a decoction. Use one teaspoon of powder for each cup of water. Bring to a boil and gently boil in a covered pot for 20 minutes. Allow to cool and settle for 10 minutes and strain warm liquid into a cup (leaving the settled powder in the bottom of the pan). It is traditionally taken in 1 cup dosages 2-3 times daily. This decoction is also traditionally applied to the skin. For more complete instrutions on preparing herbal decoctions see the Methods for Preparing Herbal Remedies Page.

Contraindications: Ubos bark is traditionally used as a contraceptive. While no animal or human studies support this traditional use, women seeking to become pregnant should probably avoid use of this plant.

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The information provided in this website is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is NOT in any way, directly or indirectly, an advertisement or claim for any actual Raintree product, nor should it be construed as such. The products and various statements contained within this website have not been evaluated by the MOH, BMA or the FDA and, as such, these products are not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease or ailment. The references contained herein relate to local, indigenous and traditional uses only. Raintree Health categorically "does not" offer professional medical advice. We would always strongly advocate that our visitors seek advice from their own GP, private doctor or medical specialist for any ailment, illness or medical condition. You know it makes sense!